The long awaited trip to Hilo has finally come, that means that it is time for the 50th Merrie Monarch Festival. The bags are all packed and the reservations are already made. It doesn't seem like it was just last year when we were making the same trip. We all loaded the car and off to the airport we went. Kona was where we would pickup the rental car and drive the nearly 100 miles to Kilauea Military Camp. We got food and drink, there was my ipod and we had each other so let the trip to Hilo begin. It has been quite a few years since either of us had driven on the Saddle Road, it was still crook and hilly road to drive, but now there is a new road that is straighter and a lot more even. It was a decent road to travel. We could see the difference in the sky when we reached Pohakuloa Training Area, it looked like there was a fire, all smoky and stuff but it was a combination of vog and rain. Vog is the stuff that is emitted from the volcano and it is really ugly at times. This was one of those times, it set the tone for Hilo. Here we come. Tonight I will photograph Ilima Hula Studio's practice, they perform at the Hoike tomorrow night. Some of the ladies that will be dancing have danced for the halau since 1960. The younger ladies that danced last year didn't dance. There was a great practice, they look wonderful and I know they will do well on the big stage...redy for tomorrow..aloha.
